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5 men arrested in Danbury, New York on drug, immigration charges
Authorities say residents are undocumented aliens
By John Pirro STAFF WRITER
Article Last Updated: 01/30/2008 06:41:31 AM EST

CARMEL, N.Y. -- A nine-month investigation into what was described as a "major cocaine distribution ring" has resulted in the arrests of five men, one of them a Danbury resident, authorities said.

Cristobal Sarceno, 28, of Sprain Brook Road, Danbury, was the driver for Alejandro Miranda, 22, of Brewster, the man who provided the drugs sold by street-level vendors throughout the towns of Carmel and Southeast and the village of Brewster, according to Chief A. Gerald Schramek of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

Sarceno was charged with two felony counts -- possession of a controlled substance in the first- and second-degrees -- and was being held without bond at the Putnam County Correctional Facility.

During the investigation, which began last May, investigators from the Narcotics Enforcement Unit infiltrated the ring, conducting 11 undercover buys that netted 1.5 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $30,000. Investigators also seized three vehicles and nearly $6,700 in cash.

Miranda was charged with three counts of felony sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and sale on or near school grounds. The final sale Miranda made to investigators was a half-kilo of cocaine near the Wells Middle School in Southeast on Sunday night, Schramek said.

Also charged were Joel Salazar-Cruz, 25, of Lake Carmel, and Aroldo Soto-Velasquez, 29, and his brother, Leonel Soto-Velasquez, 20, both of Brewster.

All five suspects are
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undocumented aliens from Guatemala, according to Sheriff Donald Smith, who said detainers have been lodged against them by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.